During the height of Melbourne’s longest lockdown in July of 2020, corporate lawyer turned Founder and CEO Kate Dillon, dismayed by the number of local businesses on the brink of shutdown, including her own online luxury handbag business, She Lion, embarked on an ambitious project to ‘support local’.
While “Support Local” has increasingly been the focus of many campaigns, Kate was motivated to find a wholly tangible way to give back to the local business community.
“We were in the middle of a two-week lockdown in March that turned into almost 6 months. The collective mood across Melbourne was pretty depressing. The inspiration actually came about after I posted an image of myself in an empowering slogan tee. I received so many positive comments and recognised I could create something to support Melbourne makers AND offer a pick-me-up to my own customers,” Kate Dillon said.
The concept: An end to end Australian supply chain for a new range of garments made from natural fibres, with as many processes as possible completed here in Melbourne.
Intended to empower and motivate customers, while directly supporting local Melbourne manufacturers and businesses Dillon decided on launching with a quality line of 100% cotton sweatshirts featuring the slogans: “Support Local” and “Actually, I can.”
“I put out a cold call to Melbourne family-run clothing manufacturer, CGT Australia about the concept and managed to speak with the Director, Phillip Skorsis. He proceeded to spend hours guiding me through the process, sharing industry knowledge and completely opening his book of local contacts. I was floored by the generosity and thrilled with the response.” said Kate.
What followed was a collective effort in overwhelming kindness and compassion. In total, 22 businesses from a Melbourne knitting mill through to a Melbourne distribution centre came together to bring the 100% local project to life.
“We want to invest a million dollars into new equipment so we can continue to become more high-tech and environmentally friendly, but we can’t do so if processes keep getting shifted offshore. A project like this gives us hope for the future of the industry” said Sam Veskoukis from Richmond Industrial Laundry.
Most Australian consumers will have very little understanding of how many different businesses are involved in the supply chain of any garment. Even if an item is designed, and constructed in Australia, it is very often milled, cut, dyed, graded and sampled offshore as labour costs can be far cheaper. To truly ‘support local’, each and every element in the manufacturing that could be kept in Australia was, even in the face of three different lockdown periods for Melbourne that brought production to a complete halt in September 2020.
“It’s essential to the survival of Australian business that we shop in our own backyard and source products from home. There are so many companies still manufacturing in Australia and it is important people know how to support them and where to find them,”said Tanya Cahir from Melbourne distribution centre, Direct Mail Corporation.
Though the concept for the project came about in June ‘20, it has taken nearly 12 months to come to fruition. The many lockdowns the Melbourne community faced in 2020 (and now in ‘21) saw drastic changes to the way many people work. Most meetings to troubleshoot tricky pattern issues, fittings that would normally be in-person and sampling were often done remotely with items being shipped back and forth. Each manufacturer faced its own specific logistical and personnel challenges.
“In March 2020 we had to consider how to continue operating through the pandemic. I jumped at the opportunity to help Kate at She Lion to create these sweatshirts because ‘support local’ is more than just a slogan and as a family-owned and run business, it’s personal.”said Director of CGT Manufacturing Australia, Phillip Skorsis.
That’s why, in the face of many logistical delays, remote working challenges and everything that living through lockdowns threw at the team, Kate remained dogged to stay true to the mission. Because supporting local is personal and essential to the recovery of the local economy and actually… she could make it happen.
A snapshot of the Australian based businesses involved to bring the project to life:
Melbourne fabric miller and manufacturer – TopKnit Fabrics Australia
Melbourne designer – She Lion Group Pty Ltd
Melbourne pattern maker – Clothe Creative Pty Ltd
Melbourne dark room sampler (during lockdown) – Stella Park Design
Melbourne grader – William Stanley; Markit Apparel
Ex-tradie turned money coach reveals the costly mistakes of poor financial planning
In Short
Tony Harrington, Managing Director of Your Property Investing highlights the significance of financial education for tradesmen, offering strategies for money management, debt reduction, and property investment.
Harrington emphasises the value of financial knowledge in building wealth.
He explains how property investing can create passive income with low risk.
Additionally, he highlights the tax benefits associated with property investments.
Harrington shares practical tips tailored for tradespeople.
His personal journey from tradesman to money coach informs his insights.
AI trends in 2025 promise to transform business operations by automating repetitive tasks and enhancing efficiency across industries.
In Short
AI is revolutionising industries by improving efficiency and job satisfaction, with key trends emerging in agentic AI by 2025. Successful implementation requires careful risk assessment, dedicated roles, and a proactive approach to enhance operations and customer experience.
Patrick “PJ” Jean, Chief Product & Technology Officer of ABBYY, joins to discuss the emerging AI trends that will reshape businesses in 2025 and beyond.
Emerging trends in AI in 2025 include agentic AI, which can enact real-world actions through digital interfaces and physical devices.
This trend stems from advancements in hierarchical planning, allowing AI to project outcomes and take actions autonomously on behalf of users.
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Industries like healthcare and finance have effectively leveraged AI, contributing to improved diagnostics and risk modelling, despite facing regulatory challenges.
In healthcare, AI aids in faster, more accurate diagnosis and personalised medicine, while finance uses AI for cost reduction and risk management.
For businesses looking to implement AI, it is essential to assess risks carefully and start with areas that offer low risk and high reward.
Establishing a culture of AI implementation is crucial, as companies that successfully integrate AI into their operations often have dedicated AI departments and officers.
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Understanding how to navigate AI adoption is essential for businesses aiming to stay competitive in the evolving technology landscape.
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In Short
Small businesses have a unique opportunity to adopt automation technologies, enabling them to implement AI tools quickly and enhance operational efficiency. Despite the benefits, fewer than 10% of companies globally are embracing automation, leaving a significant opportunity for those willing to engage with it.
The current environment presents the best opportunity for small businesses to adopt automation technologies.
Jeff Tilly, CEO of Muncly, emphasises that small businesses can swiftly implement AI tools, while larger corporations face challenges due to bureaucratic processes.
Historically, technology was often accessible only to large enterprises, but advancements have enabled small and medium-sized companies to benefit from cost-effective software solutions.
Affordable AI tools allow smaller firms to automate tasks, enhancing their operational efficiency without the need for extensive technical resources. Small businesses can automate customer support and improve visitor interactions through AI agents, providing around-the-clock service.
To identify processes that would benefit from automation, Tilly suggests focusing on tasks that are both frequent and costly. By replacing repetitive and expensive processes with automation, businesses can free up employees for more creative work.
Despite the clear benefits, Tilly notes that less than 10% of companies globally are effectively embracing automation. Many are hesitant, but this landscape offers a significant opportunity for those willing to engage with technology, potentially allowing them to outperform competitors.
For those interested in further exploration of automation and business technology, Jeff Tilly has launched a YouTube channel where he shares insights and guidance on these topics.
